WHAT DO I KNOW? I’M JUST A CLOWN.
November / December 2025
Advice from Martin “the Clown” Barry
Dear Clown,
I just moved to an area where I don’t know anyone. How does a person over fifty adjust to a new area and make new friends?
Kindly, J
Dear J,
I have always found that doing things that I like will help me connect with people. This has been true of local concerts, art shows, and sometimes sports. The people with common interests are already there. I hope you will be surrounded before you know it!
Start tonight, Clown
Dear Clown,
My parents divorced in 2015. Our interactions and relationships were only altered by having two homes. We get along like any other family and the co-parenting has been effective for ten years. I have recently been concerned about the man that my mother is dating. My sister (16) lives at my mother’s house and she has told me about some uncomfortable interactions with this man. I have asked her to be direct with him about this and to enforce boundaries. This worked for a time, but the behaviors returned. We have set up cameras in the house to gather evidence of this and we are planning to confront him and inform my mother. The question I have is whether to involve my father as I am certain that this would become violent if we did.
Sincerely, The Brother
Dear The Brother,
Your first approach was sound, and I hope your sister is safe and that your mother is not at risk. It is excellent that you have acquired video of this. Get your father involved. You are his children, and I am certain he would want to be able to act on this situation rather than find out details after the fact and he would likely contribute actions you have not considered. Just talk about this before going face to face with the creeper.
Get that guy out of there! Clown
Dear Clown,
I live with four roommates in a five-bedroom house. I have just completed purchasing this house and I am pondering some options. Should I let my roommates know that I am the new owner, or just continue as normal? The lease only had my name before this and they would pay me monthly. I was thinking about rent reductions or something else to help them get to where they could purchase their own places eventually. What would you do?
Sincerely, New Owner
Dear New Owner,
Congratulations on your purchase! The ideas you have are excellent and it is great that you want to boost your roommates. I thought about this sort of situation before and came up with an idea where renters would get their birthday month and my birthday month off of rent. This could help them save for a down payment to level up. I truly hope this will work well for all of you. Please be certain to have some legal failsafe ready for your protection as well.
Lift each other, Clown
Dear Clown,
Should I quit my job?
Sincerely, Onion
Dear Onion,
ABSOLUTELY!!
Ghost them, Clown
Do you have a question for the Clown? Write him at [email protected]
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